PMC to debar corporators, MNS likely to bear the brunt

The disqualification of two Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will prove costly for the party.

MNS, the second largest party in the PMC with 29 members, will be toppled by the Congress, which has 28 members in municipal corporation.

MNS corporators Priya Gadade

Pimpri-Chinchwad Muni-cipal Corporation (PCMC) commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi disqualified Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) elected representative Seema Phuge two days ago over a similar issue.

This time the PMC will see the disqualification of three representatives, two from the MNS and one from the NCP. The two MNS corporators are Priya Gadade and Kalpana Bahirat along with Pradeep Gaikwad of the NCP.

Kalpana Bahirat

Of the three, Gadade had allegedly furnished a false certificate for her birth date, whereas Gaikwad has not mentioned how many sons and daughters he has in the affidavit while filing the election papers.

PMC administration has formally taken the decision to file a legal suit against these two corporators under section 12 of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act of 1945.

On the other hand, Bahirat allegedly submitted a fake caste certificate. Her papers have now been referred to the Divisional Caste Verification Committee for a final decision.

Rajesh Jagtap, president, Janata Dal (United), Maharashtra, along with city president Vinod Sankla, demanded the sacking over the submission of false caste certificates.

When contacted, Pathak said, “This is a judicial procedure, which takes time as notices had been issued to concerned people and the decision on the issue will be taken subsequently.”

Prakash Dhore, deputy group leader and city president, MNS, said, “Both the cases of NCP members have been taken up in court. We can’t comment on the issue but are ready to follow the judiciary’s order.”

Subhash Jagtap, leader of house in PMC and NCP corporator, said, “Despite the disqualification, we can retain our number one position in the house.”